Assessment 2: Clinical Communication Portfolio

NURS 432: Professional Nursing Practice & Leadership

Assessment 2: Clinical Communication Portfolio
Weight: 40%
Due Date:

1.0 Introduction and Rationale

Effective communication is a cornerstone of patient safety and quality care in clinical environments. This assessment is designed to develop and evaluate your proficiency in utilizing structured communication tools and demonstrating professional interpersonal skills in complex scenarios. You will synthesize theoretical principles with practical application, focusing on the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) technique and therapeutic communication strategies essential for collaboration and patient-centered care.

2.0 Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:

1. Construct a comprehensive and accurate SBAR tool for a simulated clinical deterioration scenario.

2. Analyze the role of structured communication in preventing errors and promoting interprofessional collaboration.

3. Demonstrate professional and empathetic communication strategies in a written response to a distressed patient or family member.

4. Critically reflect on personal communication strengths, weaknesses, and a plan for ongoing development.

3.0 Assessment Task

You are required to complete a portfolio containing three distinct parts, as outlined below.

Part A: SBAR Communication Tool (50% of portfolio grade)

• Scenario: You are the nurse caring for Mr. Ahmed Al-Harbi, a 68-year-old patient admitted two days ago with CHF exacerbation. Over your shift, you note a significant clinical decline. Using the template provided on Blackboard, you must prepare an SBAR report to call the attending physician, Dr. Al-Mansour.

• Provided Data: You will be given a simulated patient chart including vital signs trends, intake/output, medication administration record, and relevant nursing notes. Your SBAR must be based on this data.

• Requirements: The SBAR must be completed in a professional format, using clear, concise, and accurate clinical data. Recommendations must be specific, actionable, and justified.

Part B: Written Professional Communication (30% of portfolio grade)

• Scenario: Following your call to the physician, Mr. Al-Harbi’s daughter arrives and is visibly upset and anxious. She states, “I just heard you called a doctor! What is happening? No one is telling me anything! Is my father getting worse?”

• Task: Write a structured, professional response (approx. 250-300 words) directed to the daughter. Your response should demonstrate principles of therapeutic communication, including empathy, active listening, and the provision of clear, reassuring information while maintaining patient confidentiality.

Part C: Reflective Analysis (20% of portfolio grade)

• Task: Write a 400-word reflective analysis on the importance of tailored communication in nursing. Connect your work in Part A and Part B to peer-reviewed literature. Discuss at least one strength and one area for improvement in your own communication practice, and outline a specific plan for enhancing your skills in your upcoming clinical placements.

4.0 Submission Guidelines

• The portfolio must be submitted as a single Word document or PDF via Blackboard by 11:59 PM on the due date.

• Use 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and APA 7th edition formatting for the reflective analysis (Part C) and reference list.

• A cover page with your student ID, course code, and assessment title is required. Do not include your name.

5.0 Assessment Criteria

Your work will be assessed based on:

• Accuracy and Completeness of SBAR: Clarity, relevance, and organization of clinical information.

• Application of Therapeutic Principles: Empathy, professionalism, and patient-centered focus in written communication.

• Critical Reflection and Analysis: Depth of insight, connection to literature, and quality of personal development plan.

• Academic and Professional Standards: Adherence to APA formatting, grammar, spelling, and clarity of expression.

References (APA 7th Format)

1. Alharbi, K., & Alzahrani, N. (2023). The effectiveness of SBAR communication in enhancing patient safety in acute care settings: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(15-16), 5124-5136. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16542

2. Foronda, C., MacWilliams, B., & McArthur, E. (2020). Interprofessional communication in healthcare: An integrative review. Nurse Education in Practice, 49, 102908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102908

3. Kourkouta, L., & Papathanasiou, I. V. (2021). Communication in nursing practice. *Materia Socio-Medica, 33*(1), 70–73. https://doi.org/10.5455/msm.2021.33.70-73

4. Müller, M., Jürgens, J., Redaèlli, M., Klingberg, K., Hautz, W. E., & Stock, S. (2021). Impact of the communication and patient hand-off tool SBAR on patient safety: A systematic review. BMJ Open, 11(7), e055055. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055055

5. Shahid, S., & Thomas, S. (2023). Situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) communication tool: A cornerstone for patient safety and interprofessional collaboration. Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management, 28(1), 35-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/25160435221147812